At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we understand how heartbreaking it is to trust a nursing home with your loved one’s care, only to discover that trust has been betrayed. Nursing home negligence takes many forms, from inadequate supervision to outright abuse, and it often leaves residents with lasting physical and emotional harm.
Our team fights to hold negligent facilities accountable throughout Chattanooga, East Ridge, Red Bank, Hixson, and the greater Hamilton County area. Tennessee law requires nursing homes to provide a reasonable standard of care to residents, and when they fail in that duty, our attorneys are here to help families seek justice and protect others from suffering the same harm.
Below, we outline the most common types of nursing home negligence, the legal responsibilities of care facilities, and what victims and their families can expect during the claims process.
Common Types of Nursing Home Negligence
Unfortunately, there are many types of nursing home negligence, and it doesn’t always involve leaving residents alone for long periods. Many types of abuse can also count as negligence.
At our practice, we’ve helped Chattanooga nursing home residents and their families get compensation for various forms of negligence, including:
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse in nursing homes occurs when caregivers or staff intentionally inflict bodily harm on residents. This can include hitting, slapping, pushing, or using unnecessary restraints. It may also involve rough handling during bathing, feeding, or transfers. Bruises, fractures, or sudden fear around staff may all signal physical mistreatment.
Chattanooga families often discover this abuse when visiting loved ones in local facilities and noticing unexplained injuries. When that happens, immediate medical care and legal action are both critical steps.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse
While less visible, emotional abuse can be just as damaging. This type of mistreatment includes verbal humiliation, intimidation, isolation, or manipulation, leaving residents feeling anxious, depressed, or withdrawn. Staff who yell, mock, or intentionally ignore residents contribute to long-term trauma in residents.
Under Tennessee law, psychological abuse is a form of neglect and is treated seriously in civil claims. Our firm works closely with families to document behavioral changes and hold abusers and their employers accountable.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in nursing homes is one of the most devastating forms of negligence. It involves any non-consensual sexual contact or exploitation of residents, including those unable to give consent due to cognitive decline or disability.
These cases often require expert testimony, medical evaluations, and sensitive legal handling. At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we approach these claims with compassion and discretion while aggressively pursuing justice for survivors and their families.
Neglect and Poor Supervision
Neglect is among the most common and preventable forms of nursing home negligence. It occurs when staff fail to provide essential care such as nutrition, hydration, hygiene, or assistance with mobility. Residents may go hours or even days without proper attention, leading to infections, dehydration, or serious injury.
In many Chattanooga-area nursing homes, chronic understaffing is a key contributor. When facilities cut corners on staffing or training, residents suffer the consequences, and the law holds those facilities responsible.
Resident-on-Resident (Peer) Abuse
Resident-on-resident abuse happens when one resident harms another through physical aggression, sexual contact, intimidation, verbal harassment, or entering rooms uninvited. It is especially common in facilities that fail to supervise residents with dementia or behavioral health needs, place incompatible residents together, or ignore repeated warning signs.
Nursing homes can be held accountable when peer abuse is foreseeable and preventable. Facilities have a duty to assess risk on admission, create and follow care plans, monitor high-risk residents, respond promptly to complaints, and separate or increase supervision when incidents occur. Liability often stems from chronic understaffing, poor training, broken door locks or alarms, missing documentation, or a pattern of ignored grievances.
Falls and Unsafe Conditions
Falls are a leading cause of injury and death in nursing homes. They often occur when staff fail to help residents in and out of bed, ignore wet floors, or neglect to install handrails or proper lighting.
Common injuries include fractured hips, concussions, and head trauma, which can quickly escalate for elderly residents. When a preventable fall happens in a Chattanooga nursing home, it’s often a sign of broader systemic neglect that requires immediate investigation.
Bedsores and Medical Negligence
Bedsores (pressure ulcers) are clear indicators of neglect. They develop when immobile residents aren’t repositioned regularly, causing tissue breakdown and infection. Left untreated, these wounds can become life-threatening.
Other forms of medical negligence include medication errors, delayed diagnoses, and failure to follow care plans. Our firm works with medical experts to demonstrate how these mistakes occur and the devastating impact they have on residents’ health and dignity.
The Legal Duty of Care in Chattanooga Nursing Homes
Every nursing home in Tennessee has a legal duty of care to provide residents with safe, attentive, and medically appropriate treatment. This duty includes properly hiring and training staff, maintaining clean and secure facilities, ensuring adequate nutrition and medication management, and responding quickly to medical emergencies.
When a facility in Chattanooga or elsewhere in Hamilton County fails to meet these standards, it may be found negligent under Tennessee law. To hold a nursing home accountable, the injured resident or their family must establish what’s known as a prima facie case of negligence, which means the basic, legally sufficient evidence needed to move the claim forward.
A prima facie case of nursing home negligence generally requires proving four elements:
- Duty: The nursing home owed a duty of care to the resident.
- Breach: The facility or its employees breached that duty by failing to act as a reasonable nursing home would under similar circumstances.
- Causation: The breach directly caused the resident’s injury or decline in health.
- Damages: The resident suffered measurable harm, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, or loss of dignity.
Once these elements are established, the case can proceed to discovery, expert review, and potentially trial. Nursing homes often try to dispute one or more of these points, arguing that a resident’s preexisting condition, not negligence, was to blame.
At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we counter those defenses with medical evidence, expert testimony, and a detailed investigation into staffing records, care logs, and facility history to demonstrate that negligence was indeed the root cause of harm.
Proving a Nursing Home Negligence Claim
Establishing liability in a nursing home negligence case requires strong evidence. Our attorneys work with medical experts, investigators, and witnesses to demonstrate how the injury occurred and how it could have been prevented.
Expert Witnesses
Physicians and long-term care specialists help explain how the nursing home’s actions (or inactions) violated accepted medical standards.
Affirmative Defenses
Facilities often argue that a resident’s age or preexisting condition caused their decline. Our attorneys counter these claims with factual medical evidence showing that neglect or abuse accelerated the harm.
Pretrial Process
During the pretrial period, our attorneys focus on building the strongest possible foundation for your claim. This includes exchanging evidence with the defense, deposing witnesses, and consulting with medical professionals to confirm the extent of the resident’s injuries.
We also work to secure critical documentation such as staffing logs, training records, and prior state inspection reports. Many Chattanooga nursing home cases are resolved during this stage through mediation or negotiated settlement. However, if the facility refuses accountability, we’re fully prepared to take the case to trial.
The Litigation and Trial Process
When a case proceeds to litigation, Gary Massey Injury Lawyers guides clients through every stage of the process. From filing the lawsuit to presenting evidence at trial, we ensure families understand their rights and options.
During this process:
- Our team presents medical and testimonial evidence to prove negligence.
- We challenge the facility’s defenses and expose patterns of misconduct.
- If the nursing home refuses a fair settlement, we fight for justice in court.
Even after trial, our attorneys handle appeals and post-judgment proceedings to safeguard our clients’ recoveries.
Recovering Compensation for Victims and Families
Victims of nursing home negligence in Chattanooga may be entitled to several types of compensation under Tennessee law, including:
- Economic Damages: These damages are designed to cover medical bills, rehabilitation, and future care costs.
- Non-Economic Damages: These damages are designed to account for victims’ pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of willful or reckless conduct, punitive damages punish egregious behavior and prevent future neglect.
Our firm also assists families in negotiating or approving settlements, ensuring that any compensation fully reflects the harm suffered. We don’t allow insurance companies or corporate-owned nursing homes to undervalue a resident’s pain or a family’s loss.
Warning Signs of Nursing Home Negligence
Family members are often the first to recognize that something is wrong. Common red flags include:
- Unexplained bruises, fractures, or weight loss
- Sudden mood changes, anxiety, or withdrawal
- Poor hygiene or unclean living conditions
- Staff refusing or delaying family visits
- Bedsores, infections, or frequent hospitalizations
If you notice any of these warning signs in a Chattanooga facility, report your concerns immediately and contact an experienced attorney. Early intervention can protect your loved one and prevent further abuse.
Where to Get Treatment for a Nursing Home Negligence-Related Injury in Chattanooga
If you suspect your loved one has suffered an injury or medical decline due to nursing home negligence, getting prompt medical attention is the first and most important step. A thorough medical evaluation not only protects your loved one’s health but also creates the documentation needed to support a legal claim.
Chattanooga offers several excellent hospitals and rehabilitation centers equipped to treat injuries related to elder neglect and abuse:
- Erlanger Baroness Hospital: As a Level I Trauma Center, Erlanger provides advanced emergency care for serious injuries such as fractures, head trauma, or infections resulting from neglect. Its Neuroscience and Geriatric Medicine programs ensure elderly patients receive specialized, multidisciplinary treatment.
- CHI Memorial Hospital: CHI Memorial’s experienced geriatric and internal medicine teams are well-equipped to evaluate dehydration, malnutrition, or medication errors, which are common consequences of nursing home neglect. Their integrated diagnostic and rehabilitation services make it an excellent choice for ongoing care.
- Parkridge Medical Center: Parkridge’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit focuses on recovery from falls, orthopedic injuries, and strokes, providing the structured physical therapy older adults often need after a serious incident in a care facility.
- Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation: Siskin is Chattanooga’s leading post-acute rehabilitation center, offering programs tailored to neurological, orthopedic, and cognitive recovery. Their team of therapists and Certified Brain Injury Specialists helps seniors rebuild strength and independence following neglect-related injuries.
If your loved one has been injured in a Chattanooga or Hamilton County nursing home, seek medical attention immediately, then contact Gary Massey Injury Lawyers. Our team can step in to investigate the cause of the injury, preserve evidence, and ensure the nursing home is held fully accountable.
How to Find a Chattanooga Nursing Home for Your Loved One
If your family is searching for a trusted nursing home in the Chattanooga area, either for the first time or to relocate a loved one after an experience with neglect, it’s important to do your research carefully.
Several reputable resources can help you compare facilities based on safety, staffing, resident satisfaction, and state inspection results:
- U.S. News & World Report – Best Nursing Homes in Chattanooga: This annual ranking reviews nursing homes across the country and highlights those in Chattanooga that meet high standards in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. It includes safety ratings, staffing levels, and health inspection histories to help families make informed decisions.
- Medicare’s Care Compare Tool: Hosted by Medicare.gov, this official database allows you to search and compare every licensed nursing home within 25 miles of Chattanooga. It provides detailed information about inspection results, penalties, and quality-of-care metrics, giving you a transparent look at how local facilities perform.
- Caring.com Chattanooga Nursing Home Directory: Caring.com compiles resident reviews, cost estimates, and amenity details for nursing homes throughout Hamilton County and the Tennessee Valley. It’s particularly helpful for reading first-hand experiences from families who have placed loved ones in local facilities.
Before choosing a facility, visit in person if possible, speak with staff and residents, and review the most recent Tennessee Department of Health inspection reports.
If you believe your current nursing home has failed to provide safe and compassionate care, Gary Massey Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal options while ensuring your loved one transitions to a safer environment.
How Gary Massey Injury Lawyers Can Help
At Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, we’re proud to stand up for the elderly and vulnerable throughout Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley. Our attorneys have the skill, compassion, and determination to take on even the largest nursing home corporations and their insurers.
We handle every case with personal attention, from investigating abuse to securing full compensation for victims and families. Whether your loved one lives in a long-term care facility near downtown Chattanooga, East Brainerd, or Hixson, we’re here to ensure they receive the justice and dignity they deserve.
If you suspect any form of nursing home negligence, contact Gary Massey Injury Lawyers today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you take decisive action to protect your loved one’s future.
